Brightline West
Brightline West is “inching toward getting construction under way” this year on its 218-mile Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail line, according to multiple news reports.
Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Senior Project Manager Eric Scheetz, who is overseeing the project, said Feb. 10 that he expects “shovels to hit the ground within the next few months, kicking off heavy work on the project,” according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report.
But before construction can begin, NDOT is waiting on Brightline West to secure financing for the $12 billion project, as well as finalize its design and contractor deals, according to the report.
That, 8NewsNow.com reports, starts with a $3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), $2.5 billion in private activity bonds that Brightline is working on now, and bank loans.
“We’re watching all that and literally stuff is changing by the minute,” Scheetz said. “We’re hearing good responses from Brightline and that things are coming very close to signing on the dotted line.”
In the next month, Scheetz expects Brightline to update the financial situation, which if positive, means work on the project may begin, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal report.
The $12 billion project, which will be broken up into nine segments featuring separate contracts, is expected to take about four years to complete once crews begin working.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal report, NDOT will issue a right-of-way occupancy permit to Brightline West to allow them to begin work in Nevada. Part of that agreement pertains to the financing and contract negotiations of the project, as well as Brightline first finishing the design of the rail line.
Scheetz says he expects Brightline will complete the design sometime in the next month for NDOT to review.
Siemens Mobility has been designated as the preferred bidder to supply 10 seven-car “American Pioneer 220” electric trainsets capable of speeds up to 220 mph—cutting the Las Vegas-Southern California trip to two hours or half the time to travel by car. It announced earlier this month that it is building a new plant in Horseheads, N.Y. to manufacture the trainsets. Described as “North America’s first true high-speed rail production facility,” the new, 300,000-square-foot plant represents an approximately $60 million investment and is expected to employ 300 workers, many of whom will be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
DART
Following a thorough evaluation of internal operations and public input, DART announced Feb. 10 that it will introduce a simplified fare structure starting March 1, 2025. The updated structure, the agency says, “is intended to offer more clarity and convenience for riders while continuing to uphold DART’s commitment to quality service.”
“Our goal is to make fares more straightforward and equitable for all passengers,” said Jing Xu Assistant Vice President of Service Planning and Development for DART. “By consolidating and refining our fare products, we aim to maintain a balance between affordability and the high level of service our customers expect.”
Key Fare Changes to DART Local Fare
- Consolidated Passes: Single-ride (used on bus and GoLink), AM, PM, and Midday Passes, will be replaced with a standard 3-Hour Pass.
- Day Pass and Monthly Pass: The Day Pass price remains the same, while the Monthly Pass will increase.
- Retail Annual Pass: This option is being discontinued; however, members enrolled in the DART Corporate Annual Pass program will see no change in their rates.
- Veterans Discount: Starting on March 1, Veterans will receive a 50% discount. They can apply for a DART-issued reduced fare card (GoPass® Tap) online or in person at DARTmart, located at Akard Station, to receive discounted fare.
- Discount Program: The half-price Discount GoPass Tap card program, for those receiving benefits from qualifying agencies, is now permanent.
- Bulk Sales Discount: A new tiered discount system is available for special events, corporate pass partners, and educational institutions.
- Extended Education Institution Program: The educational institution program now includes kindergarten through fifth grade.
While most of these adjustments will begin March 1, 2025, revisions tied to calendar year programs, such as corporate annual pass program and education institution program, took effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Amtrak/MDOT
Amtrak officials and local Canadian transportation officials toured Michigan Central Station late last year to discuss the possibility of a new multimodal station on the revitalized train depot’s campus, according to an Axios Detroit report.
According to the report, a new Michigan Central Station would fit with a proposed Chicago-Detroit Toronto corridor, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told Axios Detroit.
According to the report, it is unclear exactly where on the campus the facility would be located. When the depot reopened on June 6, Michigan Central CEO Josh Sirefman told reporters that “discussions were under way regarding the potential return of passenger rail.”
However, he stated, “I don’t think there’s any situation in which the building will resume its former function as a station in that sense, but we believe there are real opportunities to establish passenger rail in the future.”
Michigan Central hosted a group late last year that included Amtrak, state officials, and VIA Rail Canada after the train depot’s grand reopening, the culmination of Ford’s six-year restoration process, according to the report.
“Amtrak leaders are excited about Ford Property’s suggestion of a multimodal station planned on the Michigan Central campus,” Magliari wrote to Axios in an email Thursday. “There is much interest by the city of Detroit and Transport Canada officials, too.”
The city’s revitalization in recent years, Axios reports, “has highlighted its public transit shortcomings, which local leaders have been trying to solve for years.”
Michigan Central could be a key piece of the puzzle as the city searches for long-term solutions.
The potential for a combined bus and rail station at Michigan Central makes more sense after previous plans for a multimodal facility in New Center stalled in January 2024, according to the report.
The fate of the city’s Greyhound station near the Lodge Freeway is also unknown, while other big cities are seeing stations close altogether, Axios reports.
The MDOT-owned station at 1001 Howard St. isn’t among the Greyhound hubs nationwide that closed and relocated in recent years after being bought by an investment firm.
According to the report, MDOT is central to the plans, because Amtrak’s service in Michigan is operated under a contract with the state agency.
“MDOT continues to work in partnership with the city of Detroit and Michigan Central to explore a potential, new multimodal facility on Michigan Central’s campus,” MDOT spokesperson Michael Frezell wrote to Axios in an email.
Next week, MDOT and a team of consultants will begin a “service development plan” for Amtrak’s Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette routes in Michigan, Frezell wrote, according to the Axios report.
The proposed Chicago-Detroit-Toronto corridor would be an extension of the Wolverine line.
MDOT
MDOT announced Feb. 10 that it is now accepting grant applications from small businesses impacted by construction along the Purple Line alignment in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
The Purple Line Small Business Grants Program, according to the agency, will support business operations during construction closures or detours, as well as provide marketing support for businesses along the alignment during construction of the light rail project. The four-year program will invest $4 million in eligible businesses along the Purple Line corridor.
Eligible small business applicants must operate a customer-facing business within one-quarter of a mile from the Purple Line alignment and have been open and operational since January 1, 2022. Small businesses are eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria: 50 or fewer employees, gross sales averaging $2 million or less, or are certified in the State of Maryland’s Small Business Reserve Program.
Grant award amounts of up to $50,000 will vary based on location of the business, construction impacts and whether the business is located in areas designated for community and economic development, revitalization and sustainability. Up to three application rounds will take place each year. The first round of applications is due by March 14, 2025. Program details and the grant application can be found here.
The Purple Line Business Engagement Team says it is committed to “establishing strong working relationships with businesses along the alignment, connecting businesses with tools and resources to support their business, and minimizing disruptions during construction activities.” The Business Engagement Team maintains a directory of more than 800 businesses along the alignment and spotlights businesses each month on the Purple Line website.
MDOT secured the funding for the program through a contract re-negotiation with the project’s concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, which was approved by Maryland’s Board of Public Works in March 2024. Purple Line Transit Partners is MDOT’s private sector partner in the construction, operation and maintenance of the Purple Line Light Rail and is comprised of majority partner Meridiam and Star America. The project is being constructed by Maryland Transit Solutions, a joint venture of Flatiron Dragados and OHL USA.
This grant program succeeds the Purple Line Construction Zone Grant Program, which provided grants in 2023 and 2024 from the State of Maryland and was administered by Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
“Maryland’s investment in the Purple Line represents a tremendous economic growth opportunity that will connect communities from Bethesda to New Carrollton. For the project to be truly successful, we must ensure that we leave no one behind,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These grants will support the businesses whose operations are impacted by construction to ensure they remain open and are ready to thrive once the Purple Line opens.”
